Alfie and Honey are 12-14 year old female and male Bichon Frise. They are in an Oldies Club foster home in Okehampton, Devon while they wait for the perfect retirement home together.
Honey took about two weeks to settle in, get the hang of the new routine and manage to convince her foster carer that she should sleep in their bed!
Alfie took just one day to realise he’d landed on his paws, didn’t have any stairs to worry about and that all his needs were taken care of, especially his best friend being with him.
He very much relies on Honey. Honey does not like being left and gets anxious even if it’s for a little while, pacing and searching until her human returns. She loves attention but also likes to just be near you and will be your shadow around the house.
Alfie is more relaxed about being left but he is hard of hearing and has advanced cataracts so he does prefer to know there’s someone around most of the time. He likes being stroked but only if he sees your hand coming from right in front of him.
Otherwise, the surprise of being touched without warning is scary for him. Alfie enjoys making new friends! Even though he’s easily alarmed by interactions he doesn’t see or hear coming, he’s an affable little chap.
Honey is fine but she certainly tells Alfie to back off sometimes with air snaps so she’s no pushover! They haven’t been cat tested since being in foster so safest to assume they wouldn’t get on with cats.
Alfie is very good with everyone but he is pretty frail and needs routine and undisturbed rest. Older children who are considerate should be fine for him and Honey. Visiting grandchildren under supervision would be fine too. They only have a walk two or three times a week and just potter about the garden on the other days.
Honey is strong on the lead for the first ten minutes and then is happy to go home. Alfie manages five minutes and is excellent on the lead. Just don’t ask him to hurry! Neither have any recall at all so have to stay on the lead.
Alfie is great in the car and settles down straight away. Honey does settle but after ten minutes she starts to whimper. She wouldn’t like regular long journeys but short ones are fine. Honey and Alfie are both foodies!
They also need lots of nap time, especially Alfie. They both like snuffling in the garden and helping their human with whatever they’re doing. Alfie mustn’t be touched from anywhere other than the front, so he sees you coming.
He’ll flee with quite a turn of speed if touched unawares. Honey’s separation anxiety needs working around with any time left alone being built up very gradually and only once she’s fully settled in. It needs to be pretty much all on one level for Alfie.
Honey will need someone to be at home most of the time. They need a secure garden and, indoors, a range of comfy beds, please!
Alfie sleeps in his bed at night and Honey will too, if you insist, but she’d rather sleep on her human’s bed. Alfie’s impairments need a bit of consideration but he’s very laid-back in general. They are both really sweet dogs and worth a bit of TLC.
Alfie and Honey both have hardly any teeth, therefore they can only have wet food. They have arthritis and take a daily anti-inflammatory for it.
Alfie has several warts that he chews, for which the vet has given him an ointment. He is also prone to ear infections and has steroid drops from the vet to use when needed. They are both neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea-treated.
